Low Spend Month to Save More Money

 

   I need to save more money and do it rather quickly.  The recent government shutdown, with a possible second one in the very near future got me to thinking about how we definitely need an emergency fund so that we are covered in case of job loss, prolonged illness on Jeff's part (his job brings in all our income) or any other emergency that we might need funds for that we could quickly get our hands on without having to go into further debt.  We do try to put money away on a regular basis, but I want to be able to "up" that amount.   I went over various ideas in my head but kept coming back to one in particular...

   I have seen people doing "no spend" months where they only spend money on things like housing, food at home, utilities, etc..  I would love to be able to do something like that, but Jeff has committed to his bowling league for the rest of the season, so we cannot drop that.  Also, I do not want him to.  He needs to have a fun outlet and something to look forward to each week.  He works so hard for all of us, takes great care of me and works at a job that can be especially difficult due to the weather this time of year.  He also gave up the sport he loves for year while we raised our kids and I am happy to see him be able to be on a league again. 😊  I've decided instead to do a "low spend" challenge for the rest of this month.

   My parameters for this low spend month are as follows:

1. Jeff will continue to bowl in his league.
2. I will not be shopping that the thrift stores for the rest of the month (ok, this is going to be a really tough one for me but I am determined).
3. No eating out or ordering in food from the tavern. All meals will be eaten at home, at family gatherings or packed and taken with us if we go somewhere.  The exception will be if we use a gift card that covers all the cost of the meal and tip.
4. All meals will be created around what we have in the pantry, refrigerator and freezer.  I can buy fresh produce, dairy products and anything else that we might use up on a regular basis like the hot cocoa mix that Jeff uses in his coffee.
5. I also plan on trying some new recipes and also doing a once a week soup night like I used to.  This has saved us so much money in the past.  I just made a large pot of homemade chicken noodle soup using only half of a large chicken breast and bulked it up with lots of veggies and noodles.  I currently have a ham bone that I thawed out from our Thanksgiving dinner that will go into a large crockpot of homemade split pea soup that I will be making tomorrow.  Most of that will be frozen for future meals which is a wonderful thing to have on hand when I don't feel like cooking.
6. We will cut down on trips out of town with my car.  Jeff has to go to work 5 times a week and we usually use my car twice a week to go to appointments, shopping or to see the kids.  We will combine my twice a month appointments with any needed shopping.  That should limit our trips in my car to once a week on average instead of twice a week.
7. We will continue to make use of the library, YouTube and Netflix to watch movies and different TV shows.  I am also borrowing more books on frugal living, health related issues, and some "just for fun" reading as well.
8. Even though we are in a cold snap weather wise right now, I will keep the heat turned down at night and during the day when Jeff is sleeping.  I'll turn it up when he is awake though since he likes it warmer than I do.  I can always snuggle under blankets during the day and add another one to the bed at night.  I prefer it cooler anyway. I also turn the heat down when he leaves for work so that I can have a cooler bedroom to sleep in at night.
9. I need to be more diligent on working my points programs.  I have been neglecting them lately due to me not wanting to be online much due to all the political BS and some abhorrent laws that have been passed in a few states lately that absolutely disgust me and break my heart. It has been all over social media and I just have not been able to deal with it.  It gives me nightmares and makes my anxiety and depression get so much worse.
10. Lastly, I hope to list some things online that we are not using any more and get them sold.  That money will go into our emergency fund as well.

   So that is my plan for the rest of this month and we will see how it goes.  I may do a modified version of this every month limiting myself to one trip to the thrift stores a month. or every other month.  I do need to get that money saved as well as putting more money towards our debt.  I am getting this feeling lately like this is super important to do and I am going to go with what my gut tells me.


      

Frugal Friday Wrap Up 8/12-8/25 2017

 

   Don't you love it when God answers your prayers?  My hubby has been wanting a nice table saw for years now and I had it on my list of possible birthday gifts for him.  Guess what was waiting for us at our favorite local thrift store on Saturday?  Yes, the saw with all the attachments and guards.  We paid $57.98 for it and my hubby is such a happy camper right now.  I know he will get years and years of use out of it.  His birthday gift came a few weeks early. 😊  I'm so glad I asked him to stop there since I just had a feeling that there would be something really good there that day.  There was more also so onto more of my frugal doings for the week!

~Saturday's stop at our favorite local thrift store not only rewarded us with the table saw but also with a huge stainless steel colander (something that I had seen at one of the kitchen specialty shops about a year ago and wanted really badly but could not justify spending $80 on) for $2.99, 3 seasons of Beverly Hills 90210 (the original version) for $2.99 each with seasons 2 and 3 being brand new and never opened along with season 1 of the series Parenthood and the movie Guarding Tess, some clothes for Jeff, a dress for me, a Mulberry wallet for .98 (the closest thing I could find on their website currently is $360), a Coach checkbook cover for .79 and a Brighton purse that is perfect for this Fall for $3.99 (that one retailed for around $300 new also).  I also found some children's books, Jeff found some golf tees and there are a few other things that I can't remember at the moment.
~The company that Jeff works for had a catered BBQ picnic for all the employees and their families on Saturday.  They also rented out a waterpark with slides, a lazy river, a wave pool and some really fun kid's areas.  We all had a great time and the little boys and our son Chris loved the wave pool!  What a treat for us all!

~We stopped at a bread outlet store and got 3 loaves of bread and 1 package of bagels and some onion hamburger  for $5. We froze the bagels, buns and 1 of the loaves of sourdough bread for use later.
~Sunday I pulled some elk steaks out of the freezer and marinated them with some leftover wine and seasonings.  These were served with small buttered and parsley potatoes and a fresh green salad for dinner.

~We got finally got a bit of glorious rain which knocked the smoke out of the air and dropped the temperatures by about 30 degrees.  I took advantage of that to air out the house and it saved me from having to water the gardens that day.
~Monday I hung out the laundry on the line to dry since we had beautiful clear skies and a nice wind blowing.
~This weeks garden harvest included some blueberries, apples, a few raspberries (they are doing a second setting of fruit this year), cherry tomatoes, parsley, basil and some squash.
~I made more iced tea.

~We borrowed the movie "The Zoo Keepers Wife" from the library.
~Jeff and I took Caesar for a walk twice this week.  Great exercise for us all.
~I had a hankering for Mexican food so I went to the freezer and pulled out some leftover cooked rice and some chicken and green chili tamales.  I made some Mexican Rice out of the leftover rice.  I just added some sliced avocados for me and a salad for my hubby to round out our meal.  We had dinner out on the back porch since the weather was so nice.

~Steven spent most of the day with us on Wednesday.  He is so much fun!  He is really getting into watching our cat Doofy and loves videos with cats in them too. :)
~While Steven napped, I made Zuppa Toscana with things from the freezer and pantry along with some kale from the garden.
~I've been working my points programs quite a bit lately.
~Thursday I hung another load of laundry out to dry.
~I searched YouTube and found more exercises and stretches for people like me with Fibromyalgia.  I went ahead and did some too. 😜

~I received a coupon for a free product up to $5 from the Kellogg's company after calling them about another product that I had bought that was stale.
~We continue to watch some of our favorite currently airing tv shows online.
~Netflix put some new shows on that we are enjoying.
~Thursday I made a cookie sheet dinner with Italian Sausage links and sweet potatoes with a chipotle and sea salt seasoning.  We had this with watermelon chunks along with cherry tomatoes from the garden.

~I was craving some Fall like dessert wise.  I cored and sliced up 2 of the Summer apples from our tree and sauteed them in some butter.  I sprinkled a bit of salt on the apples and then added about 1/2 a cup of brown sugar to the pan and turned off the heat.  The residual heat cooked the brown sugar and butter into a nice light caramel sauce that coated the apples.  It was a huge hit with both my hubby and I. Next time I will add more apples.  I'm thinking I may core and slice a bunch more of the apples and freeze them so that I can make more of this later on and possibly even a apple crisp. These apples are the perfect apples for doing this with.
~It looks like we will be adding 2 new fur babies to our family.  Chris called last night and asked us if we would be willing to take 2 of their cats since they are moving and he is worried that they cats will be killed by coyotes or something else since they will have to be outside all the time.  I had offered to take 1 of the cats but he needs homes for 2 of them and thinks he already has a home for the 3rd cat.  Chris said they will help out with food for the cats and other expenses when I told him that we are trying to cut costs here and that Doofy is on a special and expensive cat food so the other cats would have to be on that too since we can't risk Doofy eating foods that he is allergic to.  I am going to have to pick up a second covered litter box since there will be 3 cats here.  Midgey and Patches will most likely be coming to join us sometime this next week and will stay with us for about 2 years until Chris and Heather build their new home and then will return to live with them full time.  Chris was so relieved.  He loves those cats and so do the grandboys.  This way they can still come and see their kitties.  I am hoping that the transition will be an easy one.  Doofy was raised with other cats but has been an "only cat child" here at our home. He does have Caesar though, who he bosses around like mad.  I have to admit, Jeff was really reluctant and did not really want any more cats, but he is doing this for our son and grandboys.

~Jeff cleaned up and photographed some things that we want to sell.  I'm cross listing them on several local buy and sell sites on facebook.
~Friday we headed into town after Jeff got up in the afternoon. We had to buy a second litter box since the 2 other cats will be joining us.  We went to Shopko to find one since Walmart is completely out of them.  We found it for $2 cheaper there than Walmart had them.  While we were there I went to see if they had any of the deep pocket sheets on clearance since we only have one set with the deep pockets.  We found a set on clearance for half price and it costs even less than the other set that I got such a great deal on ebay for.  We also picked up some of the elastic sheet "garters" to keep the bottom sheet in place.  They were also on sale.

~We used the coupon we got for a free product on a huge box of cereal for Jeff.
~Birthday cards were bought at the Dollar Tree for the upcoming family birthdays for .50 each.
~We stocked up on the 2 pound bricks of cheese for $5.99 each.  We bought 4 of them and that should last us a good long while.
~Jeff and I were both hungry while in town but waited until we got home to eat.  I really need to keep some granola bars in the car since I get light headed and cranky when my blood sugar drops.
~Caesar got up on both couches on Thursday night while I slept and got his hair all over them.  I used up an entire Scotch lint roller cleaning the couches off.  Luckily I had gotten the roller free.  I also washed the dog hair covered fleece throws with some of my homemade laundry detergent.  He knows better. 

   Not a bad week and I feel very blessed that we found things either at the thrift store or on sale at the regular retail stores that we needed.  The weather has been cooler so that has helped with my health and I am really trying to learn to pace myself better.  I need to tackle that bucket of apples that Jeff and I picked and get them processed.  I am hoping to get to that tomorrow or Sunday along with cleaning out the back guest bedroom so that the new fur babies can retreat there and feel safe.  Lots to do this weekend and then I hope to rest on Monday since I have a meeting to go to on Tuesday

Frugal Doings for the Past Few Weeks

   My husband and I are continuing on our quest to be debt free.  While we do this, it is still important to us that we be able to have fun, be able to purchase things that we need, but also things that we want and some would consider "frivolous". ;)  Here are a few things that we have done recently to save money while still having a good time doing it.

~bought a brand new 6ft tall pre-lit artificial Christmas tree at a thrift store to replace the one we have had for years that has seen better days $14.99
~bought a bunch of unbreakable Christmas ornaments for $1.89 a bag and $4.00 for a large box...they look like mercury glass but are safe in the hands of toddlers and dogs with huge tails ;)
~borrowed dvds from the library, we are watching Iron Man 3 right now
~hit the Black Friday sales and found some great deals on Blu-Rays and dvds along with some other things that are gifts for our kids and grandkids
~also hit the Black Friday sale at my favorite thrift store and found a purse there that I bought for 1/2 off $4.97 that was sold new for over $200 and was in great shape...it was exactly what I had been looking for
~found 2 Whiting and Davis bags at another thrift store on Black Friday...one is in perfect shape and the other just needs a minor repair
~hit the clearance area at one of the thrift stores that I go to and found lots of outfits for my grandsons and capri pants for my DIL among other things for .47 each
~have been reading magazines that I managed to get free subscriptions to County Living, Everyday Food, Parents, All
~using coupons combined with sales to get the best deals possible at the grocery and drug stores
~used my Register Rewards Points at Walgreens to help offset the cost of a gift for someone special
~made all our bread from scratch
~made various soups and froze some for later
~made cranberry orange bread and froze some for a party later this month
~watching TV shows online that I do not get on our current plan
~my handy hubby is making all kinds of home repairs and renovations here
~handy hubby also doing all the work on our cars that need to be done
~working as much as I can at my job so we can pay off our debts and take some trips and vacations this coming year
~traded in some books at the used book store and got credit to use on future purchases there
~our son Chris gave us lots of venison which really helps keep our meat costs down
~keeping the heat down when we are sleeping or not home and dressing warmly in layers when we are so we do not have to turn the heat up too high
~using our Trac phones to make all our long distance calls (we dropped our long distance on our land line)
~took advantage of some free photo deals at Walgreens
~price matching at Walmart and taking advantage of their policy of giving you the full value of a coupon and giving you the overage if the product cost less than the value of the coupon
~used gift cards to go out to dinner 
~traded in some old dvds that we no longer watch for credit at Hastings
~doing surveys and points programs and trading in the credits for gift cards at Amazon.com, Walmart and other places



 

Relationships Are What Make You Rich

My husband and I are not rich in material things but when it comes to relationships we are blessed beyond measure.  Yesterday we had a spur of the moment gathering of young people in our home once again.  One of our hanai children showed up here looking for another of our hanai kids.  He finally found her at her home and they both came walking back up here.  My own children were not here mind you and yet these wonderful young people came "home" to us.  I quickly called my own kids who packed it up and drove out here (a half an hour drive away for them) just to spend some time together with everyone.  Then, last night, one of my closest friends who I love like a sister, came up to visit and we (my husband, her and I) laughed into the late hours of the night.  She was here on a visit and it just felt so good to be together again. :)  I felt so rich!  Not the lots of money in the bank, fancy cars and vacations that can all be gone in a second rich, but the kind of richness that can only be found in close relationships with others where there is a mutual love and respect.  

This Spring and Summer have been a wonderful time of "riches" for us because we have been able to spend so much time with friends and family and celebrate some of life's biggest and most special moments.  We have had the birth of our sweet grandson, our son Josh marrying our newest daughter-in-law Jessica and our family and friends coming from near and far to celebrate these events.  Our home has been filled with young people playing games, eating and just enjoying being together.  There have been water fights with the rubber duckies that I got to go in the hot tub not knowing that they squirted water out of their beaks. ;)  I have had young children to teens picking raspberries here at my home.  When we lost our beloved Sasha dog to illness, the outpouring of love we were shown touched us to our core.  


The things that really matter in life are not "things" at all.  They are relationships.  We share a close relationship with our now grown children, and our new grandson that many people cannot understand and I find that sad.  We enjoy being together, encourage one another, and are there for each other.  We have amazing friends that we love like family and would do anything for and they would and have done the same for us.  I would not trade my "riches" in relationships for any amount of monetary gain.  I know where my true riches are...in my relationships and they mean the world to me.

It's A Wonderful Life!

Don't you just love that movie?  Jimmy Stewart sacrifices and gives to others his whole life and when he finds himself in a financial bind he becomes bitter and it takes a visit from an angel to help him realize the truth of his situation.  People with very little give what they can to help the man out that has helped them throughout  their lives when they hear that he is in trouble.  It is then that he realizes the truth.  It's not in the stuff, a new home, money in the bank or anything like that that your true wealth comes from. Those things can go away so quickly as many people have found out in the last few years with our economy and stock market taking a huge hit.  True wealth is having Faith, Family and Friends.  It is measured by the impact you have on others lives and the love that you show to them. 

We have tried to teach our boys this throughout their lives.  Money has never been very abundant around here but we find ways to stretch what we have and to serve others.  We have volunteered for years as a family with an organization that distributes food to people who need it.  Now that our boys are all adults, they continue to volunteer with other organizations while their father and I continue to do our part with the food deliveries here in our little community.  Our home has always been, and will always be a place of refuge for those that are hurting or just need a place to belong and be loved.  We have many "hanai" (Hawaiian for adopted by love) kids and family that find their way to us whenever they are home visiting.  Recently we have begun hosting foreign students who are here going to college and giving them a "taste" of American home life and having them join us for holidays.  It has become a tradition to gather here for a big game night with lots of food, laughter and love.  In the past, our living room was almost always filled with lots of kids playing games, watching movies and eating several days or nights each week and almost daily during the summer and holidays.  One of my fondest memories is of my son Jaysn and our hanai son Mark (who towers over me) standing on either side of me while I made a large pot of spaghetti.  Mark and Jaysn each had a fork in their hand and Mark was resting his elbow on my head while they waited for the food to be ready to eat.  That memory of the two of them always cracks me up! :)  My husband and I are called "Mom" and "Dad" by many young people who we consider our "kids".  Our motto is once you enter through our door, you become family.  We make a commitment to love you, pray for you and hold you in our hearts and that you will always have "family" here for you.  Yes, it's a wonderful life and we are truly rich in all the ways that really matter!